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Five killed by wall collapse at Birmingham recycling centre Five killed by wall collapse at Birmingham recycling centre
(35 minutes later)
Five men have died after a wall collapsed at a recycling site in Birmingham, police have said.Five men have died after a wall collapsed at a recycling site in Birmingham, police have said.
Police were called to Hawkeswood Metal in the Nechells area of the city on Thursday morning after receiving reports that a wall had collapsed. Police were called to Hawkeswood Metal Recycling in the Nechells area of the city on Thursday morning after receiving reports that a wall had collapsed.
Emergency services attended but the men could not be saved and were pronounced dead at the scene.Emergency services attended but the men could not be saved and were pronounced dead at the scene.
They said the five men, who were all employees at the site, were crushed to death when a large concrete structure containing metal collapsed. A sixth man sustained a broken leg and was taken to hospital, the West Midlands ambulance service said. They said the men, who were all employees at the site, were crushed to death when a large concrete structure containing metal collapsed. A sixth man sustained a broken leg and was taken to hospital, the West Midlands ambulance service said.
An investigation into how the collapse happened was under way. A spokesperson from the Health and Safety Executive confirmed that its inspectors attended the scene and would work with police on the investigation.An investigation into how the collapse happened was under way. A spokesperson from the Health and Safety Executive confirmed that its inspectors attended the scene and would work with police on the investigation.
Det Supt Mark Payne said: “We are still in the very early stages of this investigation to determine exactly what happened this morning.Det Supt Mark Payne said: “We are still in the very early stages of this investigation to determine exactly what happened this morning.
“Sadly five people have lost their lives and we have several teams of specialist officers supporting their families at this time.“Sadly five people have lost their lives and we have several teams of specialist officers supporting their families at this time.
“This has been a very traumatic incident for those who were at the site this morning and we will continue to work alongside the HSE and the other emergency services at the scene.”“This has been a very traumatic incident for those who were at the site this morning and we will continue to work alongside the HSE and the other emergency services at the scene.”
The Hawkeswood Metal Recycling website says it has been trading for 40 years and has an “extensive and healthy customer base”, including local authorities, major plcs and international metal companies. The company trades in ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals and currently operates from three sites. Paramedics said the sixth man was partially trapped by the falling concrete but managed to free himself despite his injuries.
The operation to recover the men’s bodies is expected to take several hours due to the unstable heavy structure.
The assistant chief fire officer, Gary Taylor, said: “The scene is an extremely challenging one, involving significant tonnage of concrete and metal and a structure that is still unstable.
“We have an assertive recovery plan in place and expect this operation to take several hours. The skills and services of West Midlands fire service will be available for whatever needs to be done, and we will be working hand in glove with our partners at the scene.”
The Hawkeswood Metal Recycling website says it has been trading for 40 years and has an “extensive and healthy customer base”, including local authorities, major plcs and international metal companies. The company trades in ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals and operates from three sites.
The incident comes five months after a major fire at the 700-tonne scrap metal recycling plant. More than 20 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze in February that started when more than 100 tonnes of shredded scrap metal caught fire in an area covering 2,500 sq metres.The incident comes five months after a major fire at the 700-tonne scrap metal recycling plant. More than 20 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze in February that started when more than 100 tonnes of shredded scrap metal caught fire in an area covering 2,500 sq metres.
The firm was also fined £50,000 for breaching the provisioning and use of work equipment regulations in April 2010. It admitted breaching health and safety regulations after a worker’s arm was broken when it got trapped in a piece of machinery.The firm was also fined £50,000 for breaching the provisioning and use of work equipment regulations in April 2010. It admitted breaching health and safety regulations after a worker’s arm was broken when it got trapped in a piece of machinery.
The worker, who had been employed by the firm for six months, later won an undisclosed amount of compensation from the firm, which last year had a turnover of £30.3m and a pre-tax profit of £327,036.The worker, who had been employed by the firm for six months, later won an undisclosed amount of compensation from the firm, which last year had a turnover of £30.3m and a pre-tax profit of £327,036.
The company had 26 employees, including four managers, last year, according to its annual report.The company had 26 employees, including four managers, last year, according to its annual report.